Types of Neck Injuries

1. Muscle Spasm

Spasms are tight, contracted muscles. Most people in our modern society have them, as we all experience stress in various forms. Sitting at a computer for long periods of time, as well as a lack of a balanced strength and stretch exercise program can produce spasm in the neck muscles. Neck spasms may also be the result of injury, overuse, and postural problems.

2. Muscle Strain

Muscle strain is a tear in the small muscle fibers that slide over one another during movement to produce contraction. Sometimes this tear can be microscopic, or can cause bleeding or overstretched fibers. Muscle strains are caused by:

• overuse
• a sudden and strong usage including whiplash and contact sports
• too much tension (for example, lifting heavy weights)

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Symptoms include:

• pain
• neck stiffness
• headache
• dizziness
• burning or pins-and-needles

3. Stinger

A stinger is an injury that affect the nerves in the neck and arms. It happens when the neck is suddenly forced to rotate or tilt excessively. Impact can also cause a stinger. You will know if you have a stinger if you fee burning or stinging in the area of the neck, shoulders and/or arms. Contact sports such as football often cause injuries resulting in stingers.

4. Fracture

A fracture is a break in a bone. When it comes to the neck, fractures must be taken very seriously, because we are very possibly talking about a broken neck here, and paralysis of the body below the site of the injury. Paralysis happens when the spinal cord becomes damaged due to the injury. Lesser neck fractures might cause pain, tingling, numbness or varying degrees of paralysis. Impact from car crashes, falls or sports activities are common causes of neck fractures.